Breathable waterproof fabric

ABSTRACT

A breathable waterproof fabric includes a base fabric, a breathable waterproof film layer, and a patterned layer. The base fabric has inner and outer surfaces. The breathable waterproof film layer is adhered to the inner surface of the base fabric and includes a resin composition. The patterned layer has a patterned binder layer bonded to the breathable waterproof film layer, and a layer of a powdery material adhered to the patterned binder layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a fabric, more particularly to a breathable waterproof fabric.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional breathable waterproof fabrics are usually adapted for making clothes suitable for outdoor or sport activities. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional breathable waterproof fabric 1 includes a base fabric layer 11 and a breathable waterproof film layer 12 adhered to an inner surface of the base fabric layer 11. The breathable waterproof film layer 12 is formed either by distributing a breathable waterproof material onto the inner surface of the base fabric layer 11 or by attaching a breathable waterproof film directly onto the inner surface of the base fabric layer 11. The breathable waterproof fabric film layer 12 is capable of preventing liquid (such as rain) from penetrating therethrough without blocking air to diffuse outwardly therethrough. However, the breathable waterproof film layer 12 is adhered to the inner surface of the base fabric layer 11, so that the breathable waterproof film layer 12 may direct contact with and stick on human skin especially in the existence of sweats, thereby causing an uncomfortable feeling. Conventionally, an extra fabric layer may be included into the conventional breathable waterproof fabric 1 and disposed an inner surface of the breathable waterproof film layer 12 for preventing direct skin contact with the breathable waterproof film layer 12. However, the design of including the extra fabric layer increases the cost and complexity of making the conventional breathable waterproof fabric 1, as well as weight thereof which makes it heavy to wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a breathable waterproof fabric that may alleviate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

Accordingly, a breathable waterproof fabric of the present invention includes:

a base fabric having inner and outer surfaces;

a breathable waterproof film layer adhered to the inner surface of the base fabric, and including a resin composition; and

a patterned layer having a patterned binder layer bonded to the breathable waterproof film layer, and a layer of a powdery material adhered to the patterned binder layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional breathable waterproof fabric;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of a breathable waterproof fabric according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view showing the pattern of a patterned layer of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic view showing another pattern of the patterned layer of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of a jacket made from the preferred embodiment of the breathable waterproof fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of a breathable waterproof fabric according to the present invention is shown to include a base fabric layer 2, a breathable waterproof film layer 3 and a patterned layer 4. The base fabric layer 2 has opposite inner and outer surfaces 21 and 22. The base fabric layer 2 is made of a long or short fiber that can be synthetic fiber such as nylon and polyester, natural fiber, or blended fiber.

The breathable waterproof film layer 3 is formed by distributing a breathable waterproof material onto the inner surface 21 of the base fabric layer 2. The thickness of the breathable waterproof film layer 3 is adjustable according to the desired physical property of the breathable waterproof fabric or the fabric type of the base fabric layer 2. The breathable waterproof material includes a resin composition that is selected from the group consisting of water borne polyurethane resin, water borne acrylic resin, polyurethane oleoresin, acrylic oleoresin, silicone, and combinations thereof.

The patterned layer 4 has a patterned binder layer 41 bonded to an inner surface of the breathable waterproof film layer 3, and a layer of a powdery material 42 adhered to the patterned binder layer 41. The patterned binder layer 41 and the layer of powdery material 42 together define a plurality of pattern elements that are spaced apart from each other and that are protruded from the inner surface of the breathable waterproof film layer 3. The patterned binder layer 41 may be made of a water-based adhesive, such as a water-based polyurethane adhesive, or a solvent-based adhesive, such as a solvent-based polyurethane adhesive. The patterned binder layer 41 may be formed by screen-printing, by roller printing, or by other equivalent methods followed by applying and baking the powdery material 42 on the patterned binder layer 41 to define the pattern elements with desired pattern (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The pattern of the pattern elements of the patterned binder layer 42 is also not limited hereto.

In this embodiment, the powdery material 42 is fabric fiber. However, depending on different functional demands, other powdery materials, for example, activated charcoal fibers, mineral powders, and organic powders, can be used as the powdery material 42.

Referring to FIG. 5, when clothes (such as a jacket) are made from the breathable waterproof fabric of the present invention, the patterned layer 4 instead of the breathable waterproof film layer 3 is in direct contact with human skin and provides a comfortable feeling while wearing. Moreover, the design of the patterned layer 4 reduces the usage of fabrics, thereby lowering the cost of the breathable waterproof fabric and simplifying the manufacturing process thereof. Furthermore, the powdery material 42 together with the patterned binder layer 41 is capable of defining various pattern elements of the patterned layer 4 so as to generate different patterns for the patterned layer 4.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A breathable waterproof fabric comprising: a base fabric having inner and outer surfaces; a breathable waterproof film layer adhered to said inner surface of said base fabric, and including a resin composition; and a patterned layer having a patterned binder layer bonded to said breathable waterproof film layer, and a layer of a powdery material adhered to said patterned binder layer.
 2. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said patterned layer has a plurality of spaced apart protruding pattern elements.
 3. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said powdery material includes a textile fiber powder.
 4. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said powdery material is selected from the group consisting of activated charcoal fibers, mineral powders, and organic powders.
 5. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said patterned binder layer includes a water-based adhesive.
 6. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 5, wherein said water-based adhesive is a water-based polyurethane adhesive.
 7. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 1, wherein said patterned binder layer includes a solvent-based adhesive.
 8. The breathable waterproof fabric as claimed in claim 7, wherein said solvent-based adhesive is a solvent-based polyurethane adhesive. 